Tinubu approves new Army divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, Benin; recruits 28,000 personnel
President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve military operations nationwide.
The approval, announced on Thursday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at enhancing the Army’s operational effectiveness, improving command and control, and boosting the country’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
Under the new structure, four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, bringing the total number of Army divisions to 12.
According to the Presidency, “the establishment of the new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.”
The Presidency said the expansion forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader investment in the Armed Forces, which includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improved troop welfare, and continued support for operational readiness and force modernisation.
It said the President’s approval “underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”
Under the new deployment structure, the divisions will be headquartered in Kaduna, Ibadan, Jos, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Ilorin, Jalingo, Lagos, Enugu and Benin City, with each overseeing military operations across designated states.
Implementation of the new force structure will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5 Division in Makurdi, 9 Division in Ilorin and 10 Division in Jalingo, alongside the reorganisation of existing formations, is expected to be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division in Benin City and further reorganisation, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
